National Times Bureau, July 30, 2025: A high-level US government delegation is set to arrive in India on August 25 to continue negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement that was first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit in February. This visit marks the sixth round of discussions between the two countries, following the most recent round in Washington DC held from July 14 to July 18.
A senior official from the Commerce Ministry confirmed the development and noted that both sides are working on finalizing the first tranche of a multi-sector agreement by the fall of 2025. The broader goal, as outlined in the February joint statement, is to more than double bilateral trade volumes to $500 billion by 2030.
So far, the negotiations have seen both convergence and divergence on key issues. The US is pressing for reduced tariffs on its industrial goods, electric vehicles, dairy products, wines, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer acknowledged India’s readiness to open up parts of its market but also criticized the persistence of what he called “largely protectionist” policies in New Delhi.
On the other hand, India is firm on preserving high import duties on agricultural and dairy products, citing the vulnerability of domestic farmers. Several Indian farmer groups have urged the government to keep agriculture entirely out of the purview of the agreement.
As talks progress, the US is also focused on narrowing its nearly $45 billion trade deficit with India, while New Delhi is seeking relief from US-imposed reciprocal tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminum exports. Both sides hope that a successful interim deal will pave the way for a more comprehensive long-term agreement that boosts investment flows and stabilizes trade ties.
The upcoming meeting is expected to cover not only tariffs but also regulatory harmonization, digital trade norms, and supply chain security, underscoring the growing strategic and economic importance of the US-India partnership.
